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Na-Cho Nyak Dun

Northern Tutchone Dictionary

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Contents

Introduction

The NND Native Language Alphabet

The Mayo Native Language Alphabet

Mammals

Fish

Birds

Trees and Plants

Insects and Small Creatures

Parts of the Body

Body Products and Diseases

Relatives

People

Land and Water

Sky and Weather

Seasons and Days

Numerals

Colours

Transportation

Fishing and Hunting

Tools

Clothing

Food

Fire

Buildings, Town

Furnishings

Cooking and Eating Utensils

Other Household Items

Feelings/Emotions

Medicine and Chew

Office/Departments

Abstract

Place Names

3

4

10

11

13

14

16

18

19

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

27

28

29

30

31

32

33

34

35

36

37

38

39

40

41

42

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Introduction

Very possibly, there was an English corruption of the native word for “wood” or “stick”, Dechan. Early visitors to the region reported that the native people were called “Wood Indians” or “Stick Indians” and even today the term Dechan to hot’yan (“people who live in the woods”) is recognized as the true name for the natives of Stewart Valley. Thus is it probable that the Tutchone is an imperfect spelling of the word Dechan.

To the native people themselves, their language is simply called dan dha’ (“man’s speech, person’s speech”). It is very closely related to the languages of Pelly Crossing, Carmacks, Little Salmon, and Big Salmon – all of which are also called Northern Tutchone – and is somewhat less closely related to the languages of Lake Laberge, Whitehorse, Champagne, Haines Junction, and Burwash – which are all called Southern Tutchone. The use of Tutchone for all these speech varieties implies that, to a greater or lesser degree, they are all mutually intelligible, i.e. that the people who speak these languages can understand one another.

Northern and Southern Tutchone are two members of the great Athapaskan language family. Athapaskan languages are spoken in three distinct geographical areas of the Western Hemisphere: the American Southwest (Arizona, New Mexico), the Pacific Coast (Oregon and Northern California), and the far North including most of the interior of Alaska and a large section of the N.W.T, Yukon and B.C. In fact, all of the Native languages in the Yukon Territory except Tlingit (Carcross, Teslin) belong to the Athapaskan family.

The first part of this dictionary gives examples of the use of the new alphabet. This writing system is based on the structure of the native language, not on English, and it will require some practice to become familiar with its symbols and conventions. The aim has been to provide a letter, or set of letters, for each of the distinctive sounds of the language so that there will be no confusion about how a letter should be pronounced. Hopefully this will make it easier for people to learn and read and write the language. Please study this section carefully before going on to the main body of entries; it will make the reading a lot easier.

All of us who have had to hand in preparing this booklet hope that it will serve to reveal some of the beauty and richness of the Mayo language and will encourage people to keep it alive by using it more. It is a priceless thing heritage, which has been passed down from generation to generation. Once lost, it can never be regained.

Finally, this version of the new Mayo dictionary probably contains mistakes of one kind or another. Please let us know if you find any, and also let us know of other words which you think we should put in next time.

John Ritter, Whitehorse, Yukon

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The NND Language Alphabet Consonants

The new alphabet has letters or letter combinations for the consonant sounds of the language. Each one is listed below, along with an example of its use in a whole word.

tl tlin dog

dl dlu toboggan

tl’ tl’o grass

ł łéki two

l ledyát tea

t tun trail

d dan man, person

t’ t’o cottonwood (tree)

tth tthi rock, stone

ddh ddhaw mountain

tth’ tth’é’ plate, dish

th thí’ dog salmon

dh edhό’ skin

ts tso wood

dz dzun muskrat

ts’ ts’ok tree, spruce

s sán’ star

z lezé’ money

tr trá’ arrow

dr edrún’ it itches

t’r et’rό’ kidney

shr shru inconnu fish

zr dezra cow moose

ch dechan stick, wood

j jak berries

ch’ dech’ok porcupine

sh shan summer

zh zha snow

k kún’ house

g gun snake, worm

k’ k’i birch

kh khaw sled

gh ughú’ his tooth

kr lawkra’ butterfly

gr k’όngrun doll

k’r k’ro alder tree

khr khro thorn

ghr eghrό’ egg

kw kwán’ matches

gw dan gwόt man’s knee

kw’ dunkw’an short (person)

khw khwat axe

ghw ughwán’ his raft

‘ u’yáák his shirt

h Mayo níhizhe I’ve been to Mayo

m man lake

mr mra knife

n nu island

nr to nru night time

tl’r dentl’run blue, green

tr tro urine

lr elró́́’ Coast indians

y yáw’ beads

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Vowels

The vowels can be easily written with English letters, but they do not have exactly the same sounds or “values” as their English counterparts. Here is a list of them, along with a short description of their approximate English sounds. Note especially the importance of the letters h, ‘, and n when they stand together with the vowels.

1. i has the sound of the vowel e in English see, bee. Examples:

tthi rock, stone

hudzi caribou

tutsi robin

2. i’ has the sound of the vowel in English see, bee, but it is shorter and ends with a sharp, abrupt stop. Note that ‘ is a separate letter and is called a “glottal stop”. It can occur with all the vowels, not just with i. Examples:

dan kí’ man’s foot

dan dzí man’s heart

dan tthí’ man’s head

3. u has the sound of the vowel in English flute. Examples:

tu water

dlu toboggan

shru inconnu fish

4. u’ has the sound of u but shorter and ends with a sharp, abrupt stop. Examples:

Dan ghú’ man’s tooth

udlú’ his toboggan

hutú’ their water

5. e has a sound which varies between the e of English met and the a of English make, cake. It is often preceded by a short “y” sound, giving the impression of “eeya” or “aya”. Some examples of e:

e snowshoe

ge rabbit

se sun

naye wolverine

6. e’ has the sound of e but ends with a sharp, abrupt stop. Examples:

Lezé’ money

tsé’ beaver

uté’ his father

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7. o has the sound of the vowel in English hoe, bow. Examples:

tso firewood

cho big

tagok swan

8. o’ has the sound of o but ends with a sharp, abrupt stop. Examples:

tádó’ driftwood

utsó’ his wood

zehnyó’ pintail duck

9. a has two sounds, depending on where it appears in the word. When it is the last letter of the word, it has the sound of English a as in father. Examples:

ta wave

tahna ice chisel

dya crane (bird)

When a is the last vowel of the word but is followed by any letter except ‘, it has the sound of the vowel in English above, about, around. Examples:

dan dzák man’s ear

man lake

mat food

10. aa occurs only in the middle of a word and has the sound of the vowel in English father. Examples:

tádlaat water moss

tats’aat sucker fish

dan náák man’s eye

11. a’ has the sound of the vowel in English father but is shorter and ends with a short abrupt stop. Some examples of á’:

má’ mitts

trá’ arrow

umrá his knife

12. ay has the sound of the vowel in English tie, buy. Examples

thay belt

agay wolf

tuhtsay loon

etsay he is crying

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13. ay’ has the sound of ay but is shorter and ends with a sharp abrupt stop, as in:

utháy’ his belt

ihtáy’ my uncle (father’s brother)

deláy’ bell

14. aw has the sound of the vowel in English how, cow. Examples

aw spruce boughs

ddhaw mountain

dahdzaw cache; bed

15. aw’ has the sound of aw but is shorter and ends with a sharp, abrupt stop. Examples:

dan damáw’ man’s lips

edláw’ he is laughing

yáw’ beads

Vowels + h Certain combinations of “vowel plus h” are found within words. The h adds a breathy quality to the vowels and gives them a distinct sound. Here are some examples:

i + h nihtsi I pick (berries)

ihtsí’ my grandfather

u + h tuhtsay loon

e + h tehdru otter

o + h k’oht’yan Whiteman

a + h dahdzaw cache; bed

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Nasalized vowels

Some vowels in the Mayo native language are pronounced with air coming through the nose, and they are called nasalized vowels. We indicate them by writing the letter n after the vowel. Some examples:

i + n tlin dog

utsin his nose

unín’ his face

u + n gun worm

jun here

kún’ house

Here is an important spelling rule: After the vowels I and u the letter n often sounds like ng. This means that tlin may sound like tling, for example, and kún’ may sound like kúng’. Since this ng is always predictable, occurring only after i and u, we don’t have to write the g in the word. Instead we only write the n and read the g-part out automatically after the vowels i and u. Some examples of this rule:

tlin “tling” dog

utsin “utsing” his nose

unín’ “uníng’” his face

gun “gung” worm

jun “jung” here

kún’ “kúng’” house

The other nasalized vowels are as follows:

e + n huchen it’s raining

utthíyén’ his brain

ihden I’m drinking

o + n dahdzyon bee

ts’onk’e camp robber

kahdzyona swallow bird

a + n shan summer

dan man

män lake

aa + n shra aan bear hole

dan gáán’ man’s arm

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Tone The Mayo native language is a tonal language. This means that the pitch or “melody” of the words is very important, and great care must be taken to make sure that each syllable is pronounced properly. There are two tones, high tone and low tone. High tone can be written with an acute accent (ó) and low can be written with a grave accent (ò). Note the following two words.

thí’ blood

ùda´w’ his blood

The noun dàw is pronounced with a low tone when it stands alone, but when the ‘(glottal stop) is added to it the word takes on a high tone, ùda´w’. This example is an important because it illustrates one way in which tone can be predicted: in 99% of cases, a high tone will appear on a syllable which ends with a glottal stop. Some additional illustrations: ḱún house

ùkí’ his foot

dèláy bell

dàn nín’ man’s face

dàn tthíyé’ man’s hair

Even this doesn’t tell the whole story, however, because high tone can also occur on syllables which don’t end with a glottal stop, as in dàn tthíye’ where the second syllable doesn’t have a glottal stop. For anyone interested in learning the language from scratch, the proper tones will have to be learned just as the correct vowels and consonants are: by steady practice and mimicry.

Please note: because we have tried to keep down the number of extra symbols in the new alphabet we have adopted the convention of marking only high tone (ó). Low tone is left unmarked. The examples given above will be written as follows:

kún’ house

ukí his foot

deláy’ bell

nan nín’ man’s face

dan tthíye’ man’s hair

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The Mayo Native Language Alphabet tl t tth ts tr ch k kr kw

dl d ddh dz dr j g gr gw

tl’ t’ tth’ ts’ t’r ch’ k’ k’r kw’

ł k th s shr sh kh khr khw

l dh z zr zh gh ghr ghw

m n

mr nr

tr lr tl’r

Plain: i u e o a aa ay aw

Nasal: in un en on an aan ayn

High: ́ thí’ dog salmon

Low: ̀ tthì rock, stone

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Mammals

Wolf agay

2 yr old beaver akwát

Porcupine dech’ok

Porcupine quills dechʼok chʼóʼ

Moose denyák

Largest bull denyák cho

Running Bull denyák cho ekedezhe

Moose calf detsik; detseka

Medium ram detsiga

Next largest bull(moose) dezhu

Cow moose dezra

Whistler dęndi

Squirrel dlak

Mouse dluna

Muskrat dzan

3 yr old beaver edé yá’

Spring bull edéłyat hud

Rabbit ge

Caribou hudzi

Largest male caribou hudzi cho

Caribou herd hudzi etl’ę

September bull hudzi etsan

Female caribou hudzi me

Caribou calf hudzi ra

Young bull hudzi t’atsiga

Groundhog hushrųą

Cat cat’a

Cross fox kekáák

Sheep mak

Ewe mak me

Lamb mak ra

Grey lynx negay demià

Weasel ninmia

Fox nuntthi

Red fox nuntthi det’aw

Marten nunt’ín

Brown marten nunt’ín dettho

Black marten nunt’ín denet’ro

Lynx náde; náhde

Blue lynx nände denintl’rųm

Brown lynx nände dettho

Wolverine náye

Ram sahzhaan

Grizzly bear shra cho

Black bear shra denét’ro

Brown bear shra dettho

Sow, female bear shra me

Male bear shra té

Bear cub shra ra

Mink tedhok

Black mink tedhok denét’ro

Brown mink tedhok dettho

Otter dehdru

Bat to nru lawk’ra

Dog tlin

Horse tlin cho

Pup tlin ra

Old dog tlin shaan

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Bitch (female dog) tlin ts’í’

Gopher tsaw

Beaver tsé’

Baby beaver tsé’ ra

Largest beaver tsé’ cho

Light brown beaver tsé demià

Blue beaver tsé denintl’rųm

Brown beaver tsé dettho

Its tail uchíʼ

Its horn udíʼ

Its scent glands utʼáyʼ

Its hole/den uʼaan

Weasel ninmia

Wolverine náye

It’s horn udí’

It’s tail uchí’

It’s hole/den u’aan

Animal fur nuna dhó’

It’s scent glands ut’áy’; ulí

Animals nuna

Beaver castor tsé’ lín’

Beaver dam tsé’ áw’

Beaver lodge tsé’ kun’

Running bull ekedezhe

Black fox nuntthi denet’ro

White fox nuntthi degay

Chipmunk (u’tso’a?)

Animal tracks nuna kyak

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Fish

Any fish łyok

Whitefish łyok degay

Fish scales łyok t’rú’

King salmon łyok det’aw

Fish eggs, roe łyok k’ón’

Fish fins łyok t’e’

Fish slime łyok tl’rú’

Lake trout myaat

Sharp-nosed whitefish sankay

Inconnu, coney shru

Sucker fish tatsáa

Ling cod tełyók

Small-headed whitefish tezrá’

Dog salmon thí’

Jackfish, pike táłi

Smaller trout t’awa

Grayling t’á’

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Birds

Any bird chúān

Mountain bluebird chúān dentl’run

Blackbird tatl’rua

Warbler chúān dettho

Beak chúān yét’é

Shoveler dahłak

Longspur ddhaw chúān

Grouse, spruce di

Grebe, red-necked dot cho

Crane dya

Earless owl ge sáyá

Nuthatch (?) gun dáhdzyón’

Woodpecker hut’oa

Grouse, ruffed intth’ún’

Grouse, sharp-tailed int’ák

Swallow kahdzyona

Goose, Canadian khe

Goose, snow khe degay

Ptarmigan k’ahme

Merganser tyok twät

Gull mehk’en’

Owl méddhin

Owl, short-eared náhdé’

Mallard náht’ak

Scoter, surf náw’

Hawk (?) omdzi

Its egg ughró

Widgeon sheshínshín

Snipe (?) tadrua

Swan tagok

Red-throated tahts’aat

Scoter, white-wing tatsen áw’

Flicker tentthia

Eagle thak

Bald eagle (?) thak thi degay

Golden-eye thedik’i

Harlequin tthi kánete

Loon, Arctic tth’émbí’

Common tuhtsay

Kingfisher túch’áw’

Small grey owl túdzaat

Robin tútsi

Duck (any kind) twät

Scoter, common twät dene ́t’ro

Green teal twät jada

Smaller snipe tsyada

Chickadee ts’ugaga huk’a dlīna̢

Raven ts’éhk’i

Jay, Canada ts’ónk’e

Its egg ughró

It’s feather utró’

Bohemian waxwing tthet’o dzyaga

Its nest ut’o

Its wing ut’é’

Dowitcher yadhyaw’

Winter birds yék’a chúān

Pintail zehnyó’

Gull, Bonaparte’s mehk’en’ utthí denét’ro

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Flycatcher chúān detthoa

Varied thrush yahkaak chúān

Phalarope (Northern) tagok noa

Down feathers tro

Oldsquaw a’a’lé

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Trees and Plants

Alder k’ro

Birch k’i

Bark k’i t’ún’

Shreds on bark dechún’ khe

Poplar t’o

Cottonwood t’o tso

Sap k’yán’

Balsam ts’ok tsin

Jack-pine gún tsók

Spruce ts’ok

Skinny ts’ok mra

Roots (small) khay

Roots (big) ts’agat

Bark ts’ok t’ún’

Boughs aw

Branch ts’ok uthungáán’

Needle ts’ok aw’ dagat

Cone ts’ok dahdzyón’

Gum ts’ok dzí’

Sticky gum dzí tl’rú’

Willow k’áy’

Shoot k’áy’ tegrochat

Bark for tobacco k’áy’ lyó’

Small k’áy’ the

Buck-brush tlruan

Bushes (thick) hudets’áw’

Carrot-like root ttha

Driftwood tádó’

Grass tl’o

Knot in tree shra

Labrador tea ts’ago

Leaf int’en

Lichen tthi t’ók; hudzi ni

Moss hudzi nín’

Mushroom dlák nín’; keninch’ak

Puffballs chen ghró

Rhubarb ts’egún’

Stick, wood dechan

Firewood tso

Stump ts’áchan’

Thorn khro

Twisted-grain wood dechan dédó

Water lily kat’a

Water moss tádlaat

Berries jak

Ripe berries denindzín’

Berry seed jak tthí’

Blackberries nint’ró’

Black currants tlin ják

Blueberries nanindhe

Cranberries nintl’át

High-bush cranberries tsanthya

Moss-berries ninch’ún’

Raspberries t’aninch’ók; t’anch’ók

Rosehips ninchún’

Salmonberries nan mé’

Strawberries utsia jak

Stone-berries jak ninlon

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Soap berries shra ják

Dogwood khe ják

Unidentified berry dahtl’yaw

Juniper ts’ek’i jak

Flower gųą

Fireweed huk’an gųą

Hitch-hiker burr ik’i kedeek’ay

Bluebells deelay dänįntl’rum

Bear root shrà ttha

Caribou wheat hudzi gųa

Foxtail tl’ochí

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Insects and Small Creatures

Termite chin khát

Worm (any kind) gun’

Caterpillar gun’ anadu

Black caterpillar gun’ dezhru ánadu

Butterfly lawkra’

Grasshopper nesgia

Black fly ninkhrua

Mosquito nintth’in

Ant dahdyá’

Bee dahdzyon

Bloodsucker (leech?) teht’ot

Water beetle tehtsí’

Flea tlin tl’ák

Fly eggs ts’o

Blue fly ts’oa

Dragonfly utthíetthom

Spider utsia

Web utsia myán’

Lice zhé’

Frog ts’a

Water bug tehtsawa

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Parts of the Body

Man’s body dan nazhan

Umbilical cord ts’ádhó’

His spine uchán’

His ribs ucháán’

His lips udamáw’

His beard, whiskers udayé’

His throat ughyáák

His mouth udhá’; udháát

His liver udhát

His skin udhó

His upper leg udingho

His upper arm udingho

His biceps udinzrún’

His chest udzeddhyáw’

His ear udzák

His heart udzí’

His shoulder uganchán’

His shoulder-blade uganchán’ tth’án’

His knee ugwót

His leg ugáw’

His arm ugáán’

His arm pit ugáán tl’yaak

His teeth ughú’

His toenails ukegán’

Top of his foot ukent’aak

His toes uketth’ó’

His bottom teeth uketl’aak ghú

His neck glands uk’rá’

His heel ukéntl’é’

Sole of his foot ukéntl’áák

His foot ukí’

His hip bone uk’aytth’án’

His fat uk’e

His thumb ulachú’

His fingernails ulagán’

His fingers ulatth’ó’

His hand ulé’

Back of his hand ulé’ chínt’áák

His stomach umát

His navel umát jú’

Her breast umá’

His eyelashes unálún’

His cheek unínmó’

His face unín’

His eye unáák

His eyeball unáák delruna

His eyebrows unáák yé’

His tongue utthyáw’

His bones utth’án’

His flesh utthán’

His brain utthíyén’

His head hair utthíyé’

His gray hair utthídegay

His forearm, wrist utth’yán’

His anus uttháw’

His kidney ut’ró

His back ut’á’

Palm of his hand ult’aak

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His waist utl’át

His gallbladder utl’ó’

His rump, buttocks utl’é’

His nose utsin

His nostrils utsinte

His top teeth uts’ataan ghú’

His elbow uts’ó’

His forehead uts’át

Her womb uts’át

His calf uts’ó’

His breastbone uzhuntth’án’

His bone marrow uzhák

His chin uyédé’

His jaw uyétth’án’

Right side sok ts’an

Left side tl’on ts’an

His body hair uyé’

His blood veins udáwch’ú’

His thick tendons uch’át

His head utthí’

Inside of his ear udzák zhát

His gums ughútthán’

His neck uk’o

His lungs uze’yók

His intestines uts’ík

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Body Products and Diseases

Boil; ulcer hets’ó’

Scar nina zak

Snow-blindness náák thun

Wart tth’yáw’

Blister tunót

Milk (womans) má Mans Milk t’ok

Spit dazhaak

Tears tsáytú’

Blood daw

Urine tro

Excrement tsén

Vomit ku

Pus kho

Corpse, carcasse etí’

Breath edejí

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Relatives (My) Relative ìhyénłan

My younger brother ihchaw

My nephew (woman’s sisters son) ihzra (man’s sisters son) ihmrā

My nephew (woman’s brothers son) ihchía (man’s brothers son) ihzhia

My uncle (father’s brother) ihtaya; ihtáy’

My niece (woman’s sisters daughter) ihyets’ía (man’s sisters daughter)

My niece (woman’s brothers daughter) ihchía (man’s brothers daughter) ihtthi

My father-in-law ihtsí’

My parents ìcho, ìcho k’i

My grandfather ìhtsí

My great-grandfather ìhtsía

My grandmother ihtsų

My great-grandmother ìhtsųa

My brother-in-law ihle

My sister-in-law ihle

My mother ìhne

My father ihté’

My uncle (mother’s brother) ìhnoa(father’s brother) ihtáy

My aunt (father’s sister) ihtsua (nasal)

My aunt (mother’s sister) ihnia

My mother-in-law ihtsun

My older sister ihna(a)

My younger sister ihdyóa(my mothers sisters daughter) (my fathers brothers daughter)

My older brother íhnay

My younger brother ìhchawa(my mothers sisters son) (my father’s brothers son)

My husband ihgálin’

My wife ihts’ān

My son (mother speaking) ihzra(a) (father speaking) ihzhi(a)

My daughter (mother speaking) ihyets’í(a) (father speaking) ihtthi(a)

My son-in-law utthigá́lin’ uyadén’

My daughter-in-law utthua; utthu

My daughter-in-law uya’aat

My grandchild (grandfather speaking) ihtthu(a)

My grandchild (grandmother speaking) ihché(a)

My child ihdùnyän

My children íhdùnęa (nasal)

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People Person, people dän

Woman eyéndyá,

Girl eyéndyáa

Old woman ts’enó shan, ts’enóa

Man, male dek’án

Boy dek’ána

Old man gálin shaan

Baby dunyéna zhra, babia

Elder, elders echo

Long ago people hudę dedän

Orphan tthįnte

Widow gélin hodú

Widower uts’án hodú

Medicine man dan dezhan

Bush-man nän’yín, nän’ín

Cannibal ut’yá

Stranger, foreigner hátáana

My friend iyéłák

Minister gikhi

Bishop gikhi cho

Wolf Clan Egune

Crow Clan Handyá, Handyát (Mrs. Sam Peter)

Chief hahki

Dawson people ezhaan

Eskimo anakay

Kids dunyán

Loucheux people tatl’aat hot’yan

Mayo people dechan to hot’yan

Policeman dlí

Soldier mé’ dán

White-man k’uch’än

My friend uyéłák

My friends uyéłáán’

Doctor Ch’óní dän

Nurse Ch’óní eyéndyá

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Land and Water Bench ridge ta; tl’o etsan

Bluff mehk’aw

Canyon tthi chat ninlin

Copper tthehtsáán

Creek tagéa

Dirt, dust łyó’

Eddy tl’an dlín’

Flat place hutyá

Foothills ddhaw chán

Glacier hanatth’un

Gold tthi dettho

Shale, gravel the ddhyát

Hill ddhaw etsyawa; nadloda, ddhaw ra

Hole, depression hunet’run

Ice tan; łot; tth’un

Ice running in fall łot taninch’aw

Clear ice tth’un intl’ro tth’un nindzyat

Rough ice łot delot

Thin ice tth’un ts’ededeláw’

Crack in ice tth’un etáw’

Ice over creek bed tan dhyáw’

Island nu

Lake man

Twin lakes man łets’intlua

Land, earth nan; nan kaak

Meadow, open place chinkaak

Clear place hunsún’

Mountain ddhaw

Bald mountain ddhaw intl’ro

Mountain ridge uchán’ k’áán’

Tussock tl’o táshó’

Path, trail tan

Portage udato

Rapids tu nátsat tu nint’i

Red ochre tsi

River tagé

Head of river tagé tl’aat

Mouth of river tagé’ dechaak

River bank tagé daak

River bluff mo

Rock, stone tthi

Wide river rock tthi edhó’

Sand the

Sandbar the dedhe

Slough tah’e

Steam on water tu tázrú’

Timber stand tachit’o neshen

Water tu

Drop of water tu dets’ín

Waterfall tagé’ ninlin tagé’ nadélin

Wave ta

Hilly place (lots of little hills) ddhaw ra etlę

�25

Sky and Weather Big dipper zhéde

Clouds k’ó’

Rain clouds chen k’ó’

Cold weather húk’ó’

Dampness, dew so; hudézo

Dawn yedeken

Evening star sán’a cho

Fog ets’áw’

Frost nachonétan

Hail chen ninlot

Lightening nátaan kwán’

Moon edzaze

Northern lights raámí’; yaámí’

Rain chen

It’s raining huchen

Rainbow utsia myán’

Sky yét’aak

Heaven zhe zhat

Snow zha

It’s snowing zha husha

Snow drift tsyaw

Soft, loose snow zha chat

Snow on branches dazhá’

Wet snow zha hatsaw

Star sán’a

Dog-chasing- Caribou constellation tlin hudzi nana

Sun se

Bright sun se nindin

Sunrise se hadede’en

Sunset se nade’en

Thunder nátaan

Warm weather hudhaw

Wind nints’i

Strong wind nints’i nátsat

Cold wind nints’i nak’ó’

Warm wind nints’i nathaw

Eclipse se k’ayínthät

�26

Seasons and Days Winter yahka; yahkaak

Spring edéłyat

Break-up of ice łot dégro

Summer shan

Autumn nun hunk’á’

Freeze-up tagé’ tadétan

Last year hatthi yahka

This year ek’áá́n’ yahka

Next year hatl’én’ yahka

Full moon se nenézhen

Half moon se tth’atl’at

First quarter se net’en

Last quarter se k’aan hudedetsat

Night to nru

Day dzyan

Short winter day dzyan dinkhaan

Morning k’ahme’

Today ek’áán dzyan

Yesterday het’én ke

Day-before yesterday het’én ezhet ; het’én ke

Tomorrow het’én’ dé’

Noon dzyan tl’at

Midnight to nru tl’at

Sunday nadzyan zhát

Monday nadzyan k’ún’

Tuesday nadzyan k’ún táki dzyan

Wednesday nadzyan k’ún’ tát’i dzyan

Thursday nadzyan k’ún’ tínt’i dzyan

Friday nadzyan k’ún’ lák’o dzyan

Saturday nadzyan ts’én‘ dzyan

One week nadzyan inłák

Christmas nadzyan cho

New years nadzyan etsyawa

Easter se elin dzyán

January Nahdzyän etsyáwa (Small day month/New start)

February Nahdzyän etsyáwa k’étlá̢ ze Month after January

March Dän ze Month when person moves on hard crust with snowshoes, and when person gets a dark tan from sun’s reflection on snow

April Tlin ze Month when you hunt with a dog

May E nahko ze Month when snowshoes start to fall apart

June Ezra ze Month when moose calves/young animals are born

July Łyok det’aw ze King salmon (red fish) month

August Etthá̈n unän yáanétthän Month when moose is getting fat

September Denyä́k eká’rá ze Month when moose are running

October Män zra tadétän Month when small lakes freeze up

November Män cho tadétän Month when large lakes freeze up

December Nahdzyän cho ze “Big day” month/Christmas month

Native Calendar - Consists of long string of knots and beads, each day marked by a knot and each sunday indicated with a bead. Christmas - red, New year - white, Good friday - black, Easter - white. Births were also noted with knots.

�27

Numerals 1 inłak

2 łéki

3 tádet’i

4 łint’i

5 lak’odet’i

6 łink’yu tádet’i

7 lak’o ts’én’ łéki

8 łets’én’ łint’i

9 ulachú’ ts’ink’o

hedú’

10 inłak deten

11 inłak deten inłak

12 inłak deten łeki

13 inłak deten tádet’i

Numbers carry on like the above (ex. 10 and 1, 10 and 2, 10 and 3 and so on)

20 łéki deten

21 łéki deten inłák

22 łéki deten łéki

Etc.

30 tádet’i deten

40 łint’i deten

50 lak’odet’i deten

60 łink’yu tádet’i

70 lak’o ts’én’ łéki deten

80 łets’én’ łint’i deten

90 ulachú’ ts’ink’o hedú’ deten

100 inłak deten deten

200 łéki deten deten

300 tádet’i deten deten

Etc.

1000 inłak deten deten deten

1975 inłak deten deten deten, ulachú’

ts’ink’o hedú’ deten deten, lak’o

ts’én’ łéki deten, lak’odet’i

Colours Black denet’ro

White degay

Red det’aw

Grey demia

Green, blue dentl’run

Brown, yellow dettho

Light red detsik

Orange kw’anintsi

�28

Transportation Boat, scow ts’i

Canoe ts’i etsyawa

Front of canoe ts’i tthí’

Back of canoe ts’i utl’echín

Crosspiece uyintth’á’

Ribs of canoe ts’i yinghwát’

Birch-bark canoe k’i ts’i, k’ì-ch’ún tsi

Paddle tát’o’

Pole for boat ts’i tó’

Raft khwán’

2-log raft tso łéki khwán’

Skin boat edhó ts’i

Sled khaw

Snowshoe e

Pointed nose e tsints’ok

Round nose e tthí sanamá’

Middle section e kenłan

Foot straps e kench’á’

Front Crosspiece e yintth’á’

Back section uchidró’

Frame e nazhan

Front joint e tthí’ łetl’un

Netting e ts’anaghat

Trail snowshoes tan gé e

Hunting łenazhe e

Babiche e tl’yáw’

Toboggan dlu

Trail, path tan

Snow trail natan ts’ena’yó’

�29

Fishing and Hunting Fish hook t’ráán’

Gaff hook k’ek’ak

Fish net łyok témyán’

Sinkers temyán’ tetthí’

Floaters temyán dechán’, temyén téłrún

Dip net łyok tl’ets’ek’é’

Fish spear łyok khro

Fish trap łyok ów’

Arrow trá’

Arrowhead trá’ chín’

Arrow feather trá’ t’é

Notch at end trá’ t’é’ nets’eda

Bow intín’

Bow string intín’ tl’yáw’

Caribou fence tthaw

Club khá’

Horn club edí́gha’

Snare gemyán’

Trap kyá’

Steel trap mezan khyá’

Deadfall dechan yá’

Bait khyá’ ní

Gun, rifle k’onk’é́’

Shotgun shagán’

Single barrel k’onk’é́’ dhyon inłák

Double barrel k’onk’é́’ dhyon łéki

Pistol k’onk’é́’ etsyawa

Bullets k’onk’é́’ tthí

Trigger k’onk’é́’ dzák

Gunstock k’onk’é́’ dechán’

Gun-sight k’onk’é́’ túkí’

Skin-stretcher uka nyonadho tsekan

Skin flesher udho uyí tétsega

Pole for hanging skin dho dazhrú

Smoother uyí tsetho

Scraper (outside) inji, dho inji

Scraping stick uka ts’echi t’ó

Moose brain water etthíyę tú

Stick for wringing out moose skin edho uyí nätsenégo tó

�30

Tools Axe khwat

Double-bladed axe khwat łets’idek’é

Stone axe tthi ghwát

Awl inchú’

Bone chisel náttha

File k’edé’

Hammer uyí etsáw ts’ettho

Hand plane dechan dhá’

Ice chisel tahna

Knife mra

Wood knife dechan mrá’

Pocket knife mra t’anintl’aga

Folding knife mra däntl’áka

Knife blade mra-k’ę

Sharp knife mra dét’ó

Dull knife mra ts’edégwát

Metal mezan

Nails etsáw

Needle for filling snowshoes e ínmó’

Saw dechan t’á’

Sewing needle ts’agaw

Thimble zhehtth’ó’é’

Thread tth’í’

Sewing bag nets’etl’u kenro

Snowshoe-chisel ts’ighú’

Snowshoe drill e shrú’

Tacks etsáw’

Tanning scraper dádho

Whetstone tthi k’rá

Scissors metläk

�31

Clothing Moose skin denyék dhó

Moose skin jacket denyék-dhó ‘yek

Hair braid detthiyę nįntl’áw

Scarf dhänt’a

Socks stógan

Tattoo dèthän-ka yóodépyęn

Earring dzäkpyęn

Clothes ech’aw

Underclothes et’e yáák

Dress eyéndyaá yaák

Bracelet gąą-tl’ow

Caribou skin pants hudzi dhó’ tho

Moccasins kechän, kentson

Shoes ki, kéngwät

Handkerchief k’wánti

Shawl k’wánti nedechú

Gloves má’ur, má de’ro

Mitts má’

Hood párki ts’á’

High heel shoes shú chäk

Duffel tetaw

Belt thay

Pants tho

Pocket sat’á’

Headband tthí-tl’ät dehechu

Sleeve yaak gáán

Nose ring tsin-läntthi

Jacket, shirt yak

Button yaak tsáw’

Beads yáw’

Skirt éndyá tl’ekó

Suspenders wánt’i

Cap ts’aat

Dentalium shells k’on

Shell belt k’ongetthí dháy’

My clothes ìch’aw

Beaver fur clothes tsé-dhó ’yek

Men’s underwear dek’án t’éy’yek; dek’án detho

Women’s underwear éndyá thotth’a; éndyá detho

�32

Food Food mat

Meat etthán’

Small pieces etthán’a

Dried meat etthán’-gän

Fried meat etthán’ hech’ó

Boiled meat etthán’ hech’á, etthán’-t’ro

Smoked meat łets’í etthán’

Raw meat etthán’ łet’ow

Brisket eyuntthän

Shoulder meat eganchän-tthän

Rib meat echäk (ä nasal)

Pounded meat etthán’ esháw

Grease, lard khi

Bone grease tth’an yí’

Fat ek’e

Butter khi dettho

Marrow ezhäk, tth’äzhek

Pemmican etsún

Moose guts dènyák tsék

Dried meat balls ketsóm, ìntsom

Soup tudháw’

Bone soup tth’an tú’

Fish łyok

Boiled fish łyok tro

Dry fish łyok gan

Crumbs, leftovers uddhyét, uddhyéta

Honey tedzyon-ts’ę

Syrup súgatthaw

Sugar súga

Potatoes ts’onshi

Salt losyá’

Pepper losyá’ denét’ro

Rice ráy’

Corn shaan ghú’

Tea ledyát

Coffee tu dettho

Milk mílik

Flour łyó’

Bannock łyó t’ó’

Bread łyó dan

Baking powder łyók tats’atl’áy

Sweets łekan

Cookies łyó tekana

Crackers łyó gan

Fruit łekan ts’a’á’

Oatmeal mush

Juice jak tu

�33

Fire Ashes the lyó’, tthì lyó

Charcoal t’ró’

Fire, matches kwán

Burning fire kwán dék’án’

Fireplace kwán dék’án yet’aak

Firewood tso

Kindling wood egá’

Red coals kwán tthyáw det’aw

Smoke łets’í’

Smoke dust łets’í’ detín’

Wood shavings egá’ nédo

Wet wood tso détsaw

Dry branches kintthįn

Embers kwán ddhiet

�34

Buildings, town

Cache dahdzaw

Door dantaan

Tent dazhat

Floor dechan tyá’

Dance hall elin kún

House kún’

Roof kún’ tet’aak

School kún’ uzhat nats’enétan

Wall man yékí’

Brush camp man kún’

Store mat kún; mat ye’ekyáát kún’

Round tent ninmá’ kún’

Window nru ts’in’in

Town kezhi

Church kún uzhat nats’ode

Ridgepole kún’ tet’aak deni’e

Grave tth’änkyét

Community hall nóozhi kún

Elder’s centre echo kún

Band office Nacho Nyak Dun Kún

Hospital denęde kún

Jail kún-t’ro, kún-t’ro kún

Post office k’ok kún

Restaurant dän nénekwan kún

School Nanatän Kún

College echo nánetan kún

Campsite ejun netsedi

�35

Furnishings Bed dahdzaw

Blanket ts’at

Plaid blanket elró ts’át

Rabbit blanket gè ts’ät

Curtain nru ts’in’in; nadedemá

Eiderdown tro trs’át

Mattress, rug tyá’

Down mattress tro tyá’

Pillow tro

Swing for baby dunyán’ dámyán’

Table uka nats’ekwan

�36

Cooking and Eating Utensils Cup tu tyan

Fork hets’eguk

Frying pan kímyan

Ladle, dipper ts’á uchí’

Plate, dish tth’é’

Birch bark dish k’i tth’é’

Pot, kettle yunthé’

Spoon ts’á’

Stove mezan uzhat kwán dék’án’

Teapot ledyát tyan

Tin can mezan tth’é’

�37

Other Household Items Accordion dezik dedezro

Babiche tl’yaw

Bag, sack kenzró

Ball dakák

Bell deláy’

Bible k’ok cho

Book k’ok

Box (wooden) dechan tyan

Cane dechán tó’ uyí nats’a’rá

Chewing tobacco łat

Snuff métl’aat

Clock, watch waat

Comb, hairbrush tthizya

Drum kegaw

Fiddle pedlyáw’

Bow pedlyáw’ tín’

String pedlyáw’ tl’yáw’

Harmonica dan dhá’ dezik

Key dedlín’

Money lezé

Paper, letter k’ok

Pipe łetín

Playing cards k’oke

Clubs k’ambe kí’

Hearts dan dzí’

Rag etlyak

Towel ech’aw tl’yaak ninkédí’

Rope tl’yaw

Twine tehtl’yaw

Slingshot tthi tl’yaw

Soap detlí’

Telephone tl’yaw uzhat ts’ohondi

Thread tth’í’

Ready-to-use tth’í’ néhdo

Trunk dechan ut’o hodle

Umbrella chen dazhat

Whistle k’áy’ t’ún’ hushrún’

Wire mezan tl’yaw

Sled ughaw

Slippers kensų

Backpack khya

Map kezhi k’ok

Candle kendlo

Candle-wick kendlo tl’yow

�38

Feelings/Emotions Happy sóhóthän

Surprised dzédiningho

Mad/Angry ihyááhodhät

Cold hók’o

Pained denihde

Hot hódhaw

Tired nétenihtsę

Sleepy maw esedélitlę (?)

I am happy tatho(nasal) híthän

I am sad hoch’o

I am mad ihyáhudhät

�39

Medicine, Chew Medicine chúní

Aspirin utthí dęnédi chúní

Cough medicine dekòw chúní

Stomach medicine umat chúní

Balsam bark medicine ts’ok tsin t’ún chúní

Charcoal medicine t’ro chúní

Soap-berry medicine shrà jék chúní

Juniper berry medicine ts’ek’i jék chúní

Puffball medicine chęghró chúní

Spruce gum ts’ok dzí

Raw, black spruce gum ts’ok dzí delywät

Hard gum ts’ok dzí degät

Lighter gum ts’ok dzí henyá ts’ędegät (little bit harder)

Creamy gum dzí tl’rú

Clear spruce gum ts’ok dzí nint’rųą

Chew made with ashes metla łyo

Cigarette segra

Tobacco łät

Tobacco pipe łät tį

Snuff łät ts’etsän

�40

Office/Departments Welcome sók neyni’įn (it is good to see you)

Hello (on phone) ndíthäk (I hear you)

Phone (this is (name) speaking) (name) honi

Band office Nacho Nyäk Dän Kún (Nacho Nyäk Dän house)

Chief Hákí

Deputy Chief Hákí-kà Näddhät (stands behind Chief)

Councillor Hákí-yí Hutsiyóhoyän (working with the Chief)

Chief and Council Tleti Tlèyí Hutsiyóhoyän (all working together)

Lands and Resources Nän-yę Yétsiyóhoyän

Health and Social Services Dän-yę Yétsiyóhoyän

Heritage Hudę Dàdän Huk’été (long ago our people in the way of - in the way of our ancestors)

Housing Kún-yę Yétsiyóhoyän

Finance Lezét-yę Yétsiyóhoyän

Education Dän Náts’enetän-yę Yétsiyóhoyän

Justice Doolí-yę Yétsiyóhoyän

Economic Development Kezhi-yę Yétsiyóhoyän

Executive Director Utsin Kóhóthät

�41

Abstract

Northern Tutchone dän-dhá k’é

English k’uch’än-dhá k’é

Song shän

Story hùnày, hònày

My name ìzi

Strong mind yúhųmzhę nétsät

Weak mind yúhųmzhę tetsu

God Ut’otent’i

Prayer hoodené’di

Dream níkhti, níti

My shadow, spirit inerųm inezhrųm

Compassion, sympathy nese’ńti

Shame, shyness huzhe

Kindness tsunia

Pure, clean soothän há’e

Respect nįtrą

Taboo doolí

Hazard nonajät

War nänamyé

Gossip eyę honi

Famine dän uda dįnka

Potlatch dän łéchinja

Bad place nän détsí

I wish for it sedéhtlę

Copy ghá

Died yéhedínłe

�42

Place Names Big Island Nu Cho

Ethel Lake Tekwänt’e Män

Ferry Hill Et’ocho Ddhaw

Fraser Falls Tthi Tenínlin, Tu Nínlin (literacy session books tthi zhät ninlin - water flowing

inside rocks?)

Janet Lake Ttth’un Ts’edeláw Män

Mayo River Mayo Tagé

Mayo Lake Daghro Män

McQuesten River Et’o Nyäk Tagé

McQuesten Lake Et’o Nyäk Män

Reid Lake Łyok Män

[previously unnamed] Nets’áwa Män

Lake at end of airport Mek’ę Tadhaw Män

Lake by S. Wood old property Tédrun Män

Lake by S. Mervyn property Dläk T’o Män

Williamson Lake Khwän Män

Yukon River Tagé Cho

Stewart River Nacho Nyäk gé

Mountain across Ddhaw Hètsaw; from Mayo Ddhawtsaw

Mountain across from Tl’ok Hètsaw Ddhaw, gravel pit Tl’otsaw Ddhaw

lake by group home Archie Tlota Män

U Slough Nu Tl’áhelin

Horseshoe Slough Ta’íagé

White Mountain Tthi Teghra Ddhaw

lake past McQuesten Maw Shan Män Lodge

Raft Creek Khwän Tagéa

Francis Lake Tatsé Män

Janet Lake Janet Män

Talbot Lake Män Tanawát

Talbot Creek Tatsé Mängé

Two Buttes/ Tthinimá Sheep Mountain (?)

No-gold Creek Tthinimágé

Hungry Mountain Tekwänt’e Ddhaw

Fraser Falls Hill Shra Ki Ddhaw

Crooked Creek Tagéa Dawát

Reid Creek Łyok Män Tagía

McQuesten Village E’to Nyäk Kezhi

Tressider Lake Náye Män

Tressider Creek Nayé Män Tagéa

Meadowhead Creek Tàghro Tagéa

Highland Lake Tàghro Män

Big Kalzas Lake Łųnchįn Män

Kalzas River Łųnchįn Tagéa

Kalzas Twins Ddhaw Tsetl’un

Canoe Lake Tsi Män

�43

Moose Lake Dènyák Män

Lansing River Lansing Tagé

Hot Spring Tu Néthaw Tu Néthaw Hįnlįn

Ladue Lake Ladue Män

Beaver River Tsé Tagé

Mount Haldane Nánta Ddhaw